Koi Poke Brings Fresh Island Fare To DC Ranch Crossing

DC Ranch’s natural beauty doesn’t include white sandy beaches or surf breaks, but Hawaii’s food scene officially arrived with the opening of Koi Poke Bar & Bowl in DC Ranch Crossing. Pronounced “POH-KAY”, this wildly popular dish is served up fresh with your choice of crosscut slices of tuna, salmon, yellowtail, shrimp, octopus, lobster or tofu. Choose a bed of rice or spring salad mix, then top it with veggies, garnishes, and your choice of eight sauce derivatives that fuse Japanese and Hawaiian influences to create a unique and healthy meal in one delicious bowl.

What distinguishes North Scottsdale’s first and only poke bowl concept from others springing up across the Valley? According to Koi Poke partner Ted Constantine, “While the others typically use large restaurant food suppliers, we procure the freshest products available through specialty seafood purveyors that fly our seafood in, from boat to plate.”

Other innovations that set locally-owned and operated Koi Poke apart from the rest of the poke chains migrating to Arizona from California include two side-by-side concepts. Koi Poke features an upscale dining side that serves poke bowls with wine, beer, sake and an extensive cocktail menu, and there’s a grab and go side where you can skip the bar and grab a quick bowl or take it to go.

What’s more, both concepts include an icy new taste sensation called Hawaiian Snow Ice. “We’re excited to be the first to combine this finely shaved ice concept, which literally melts in your mouth, with a Poke restaurant” Constantine said. “First, we infuse the ice with flavors like coconut, banana and pistachio, then we drizzle in your favorite toppings to create a light and refreshing dessert.”

With a fresh new focus on convenience and deliciousness, it’s hard to imagine what more one could want in a poke bowl establishment. But wait. The word “Koi” happens to be slang for the Japanese word “Koibito” which translates not only to love, but can also mean the feeling between new lovers.

What better place to plan a date night, without the cross-Pacific airfare? Mahalo.